Obama: Americans ‘reject denigration of any religion — including Islam’

President Obama paid tribute to the four Americans slain this week in Libya and again tried to tamp down anti-American anger around the globe in his weekly radio address on Saturday.

“I have made it clear that the United States has a profound respect for people of all faiths. We stand for religious freedom. And we reject the denigration of any religion — including Islam,” the president said in the prerecorded remarks.

As anti-American protests spread Saturday around the world — including to Australia — Mr. Obama repeated the administration’s position that the outbursts are not indicative of widespread opposition to the United State or its policies.